Moran and Coulter shine on mixed day for Irish teams in Sotogrande
Spanish golfers excelled in the windy conditions in Sotogrande
Castle’s Robert Moran and Kirkistown Castle’s Beth Coulter were outstanding as Ireland’s men’s and women’s teams enjoyed mixed fortunes in tough scoring conditions in the opening round of the European Nations Championship at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
The men’s team of Moran (73), Hugh Foley (77), Liam Nolan (77) and Peter O’Keeffe (79) are fifth on 11-over, six shots behind France and Spain.
In the women’s event, Coulter (75), Aideen Walsh (84) and Lanigan (84) are eighth on 15-over, 11 shots behind leaders Germany.
Just three players broke par in the men’s event with Spain’s Jaime Montojo carding a best of the day, three-under 69 to lead but a shot from Denmark’s Hamish Brown and by two strokes from France’s Tom Vaillant.
Moran’s one-over 73 left him tied for fourth in the 78-strong field while in the women’s event, Coulter’s 75 was good enough for a share of seventh, just two shots behind Spain’s Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio.
The Spaniard’s 73 gave her a one-shot lead over Wales’ Darcey Harry, Germany’s Charlotte Back and Helen Briem, the Czech Republic’s Denisa Vodickova and Scotland’s Jasmine Mackintosh.
